A Guide to the Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, 1936-2000 Wilhelm, Papers of Jane G. 12018

A Guide to the Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, 1936-2000

A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number 12018


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Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number
12018
Title
Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm 1936-2000
Physical Characteristics
This collection consists of ca. 8,000 items(23 Hollinger boxes, 9.5 linear shelf feet.)
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, Accession #12018, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These papers were given to the University of Virginia Library by Jane Wilhelm through Donald Wilhelm III, Pleasant Hill, California on June 23, 2001.

Biographical/Historical Information

Jane Gilmer Wilhelm was born on November 29, 1914 in Norton, Wise County, Virginia, to banker Henry G. Gilmer (1881-1961) and Allie Blake Gilmer (1890-1966), school teacher and daughter of an Holston Conference Methodist minister. She graduated from Norton High School as valedictorian in 1931, attended William and Mary from 1931 until she earned her diploma in 1935, and received her Masters from Duke University in 1937. Wilhelm also did graduate work at Yale University, Radcliffe College, and George Washington University. She was married in 1938 to Donald Wilhelm, Jr. (1915- ) and divorced in 1964. They had four children, Donald Wilhelm III (1942- ), Henry Gilmer Wilhelm (1943- ), John Warren Wilhelm (1945- ), and Ellen Jane Wilhelm (1948-1985).

Jane Wilhelm began her career in education at Sullins College, Bristol, Virginia, in 1935-1936, and continued as Director of Student Activities, Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Georgia (1937- 1938), Director of Religious Education, Rock Spring Congregational Church, Arlington, Virginia (1951-1952), Special Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa (1949-1951), teacher and Assistant Principal for Instruction, McLean High School, Fairfax County, Virginia (1954-1964), Director of Community Relations for the new town of Reston, Virginia (1964-1969), Principal of Glaydin School, Leesburg, Virginia (1969-1976), and Professor of English and Philosophy, Northern Virginia Community College (1966-1980). Wilhelm was the first female administrator in the Virginia public schools, during the 1950's.

As the director of community relations for the planned city of Reston, Wilhelm began her work as the primary contact with local voluntary agencies and state and county officials before the first building went up in the developing community. She was charged with the task of securing community facilities, such as schools, day care, a hospital, and churches in the new town, creating an infrastructure for social services in Reston. Wilhelm was also responsible for educating potential buyers about the uniqueness of the community, which was open to all races. She also served as president of the Reston chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and as a member of the Reston Community Center Board of Directors and Learning in Retirement Institute. In 1999, she won the Best of Reston Award for all of her services to that community.

Wilhelm was also active in the civil rights movement, working with other teachers to integrate Fairfax County Public Schools. Along with eight other teachers, she joined the Fairfax County Black Teachers Association.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the papers, 1936-2000, ca. 8,000 items (23 Hollinger boxes, 9.5 linear shelf feet) of educator and activist Jane Gilmer Wilhelm (1914-2002), daughter of Henry Groseclose Gilmer (1881-1961) and Allie Washington Blake (1890-1966), of Norton, Virginia.

The papers include correspondence, chiefly from family and friends, postcards, news clippings, notebooks, personal diaries recording both her life and ideas, slides, photographs, audiocassettes and memorabilia. The papers document her teaching career, her concern with social issues in Virginia and nationwide, and the foundation of the planned community, Reston, Virginia.

The bulk of the collection consists of personal correspondence, courses taught by Wilhelm, the development of Reston, Virginia, papers pertaining to the Society for Values in Higher Education, and articles and related materials reflecting her interest in Cuba. A significant portion of the papers describe her family life and her travels to China, Cuba, Greece, and Italy after her retirement. Two unpublished memoirs were written in honor of a deceased daughter and grandson..

Organization

These papers are arranged in three series: Series I: Correspondence (Boxes 1-3); Series II: Subject Files (Boxes 4-13); and Series III: Bound Volumes, Photographs, Memorabilia, and Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 14-23), including slides, photographs, post cards, and photograph albums.

Contents List

Series: I: Correspondence
Series: II: Subject Files
Series: III: Bound Volumes, Photographs, Memorabilia, and Miscellaneous Papers